Where Salisbury ABCs British number one Mulholland went some way to erasing the pain of his bewildering omission from this week's Olympic qualifiers by cruising to his second title with a typically accomplished performance against Craghead's John Watson, the rest of the North West contingent were appearing in their first national finals.

Showing great movement to evade the advances of the rangy Watson, Mulholland stepped up his attacks by the third to press the North East fighter onto the backfoot looking for options.

The Liverpool featherweight unloaded a series of short sharp rights in the final round to ensure a national senior double but admitted afterwards his main focus is getting to Athens in August.

"Watson is a good kid and I found it quite tricky due to his height," he said.

"I'm made up to get my second senior title but I'm not sure what I have to do to get to the Olympics. Hopefully this will get me a place in the last qualifiers next month."

Of the 11 bouts on show, most at ringside handed performance of the night to another John Watson in Higherside Police's light-welterweight.

At 6-5 to Watson going into the third round, the eventual 17-8 total underlined his domination in the final two as a succession of top quality combinations between head and body forced Madoti - a Commonwealth Games 2002 contender - to take a standing count in the last.

After seeing the Prescot club's first ever senior ABA success, trainer Dave Mulcahy beamed afterwards: "This is great for the club. Our gym was burned down last year so just to be here is a success in itself.

"I'd like to thank Knowsley Leisure Centre and Prescot Town Council for giving us somewhere to train and helping to produce a true champion.

"John is a great lad and it is an honour to work with him."

Following two years away from the sport, St Helens Town's Martin Murray rubberstamped his return with a debut win in the seniors. Throughout the earlier stages, Murray's exceptional pedigree has been evident but he found it tougher going against Stephen Briggs of the Army.

However, after a 15-8 victory against last year's beaten semi-finalist and 2002 finalist, stocky welterweight Murray is well and truly back in business and, like Watson and Bellew, will make his England debut in the Four-Nations tournament in Glasgow at the weekend.

At the top end of the scales, Rotunda ABC heavyweight Bellew completed the story of the competition as he outpointed the Royal Navy's reigning champion Mick O'Connell.

Just four months ago, Bellew was celebrating success in the Novice championships and was something of a wild card entry in the ABAs. After admitting beforehand he had nothing to lose, the exciting 21-year-old gained everything with a devastating display to see off England number two O'Connell to emerge as another top prospect from the city.

In a great contest, both fighters went all out, but spurred on by the chants of 'Bomber' from his vocal travelling support, the large as life Scouser exploded to counter O'Connell's left jab, connecting with big right hands and powerful left crosses to take his opponents mantle as national champion and seal another successful night for Merseyside inside the ring.

Huyton flyweight Mick Gerrard and Croxteth bantam John Donnelly put in brave attempts against established England internationals, Stewart Langley and Matthew Marsh. However, the experience of the London duo proved too much on the night.